Product Description
This scarce antiquarian book is a selection from Kessinger Publishings Legacy Reprint Series. Due to its age, it may contain imperfections such as marks, notations, marginalia and flawed pages. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment to protecting, preserving, and promoting the worlds literature. Kessinger Publishing is the place to find hundreds of thousands of rare and hard-to-find books with something of interest for everyone! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Handy Book
This is a very handy book for a MM, line officer, or Mason needing to refresh (Reminder that all States are not the same so this doesn't fit 100% but is close enough no matter where you serve!) per my husband. ... Read more

Product Description
1884. This book contains instructions in all the Degrees from the third to the thirty-third, and last Degree of the Rite, together with ceremonies of inauguration, institution, installation, grand visitations, reflections, lodges of sorrow, adoption, constitutions, general regulations, calendar, etc. Fully illustrated. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Excellent!
I was very pleased with the overall content in this book.. I was looking for a book that came close in comparison to, the Scottish Rite Ritual Monitor and Guide (2nd Edition) by Arturo de Hoyos.. this book by Charles T McClenachan does just that.. I did recommend to all of my classmates.. Thanks again.. Leroy D ... Read more

Product Description
Metaphysical/Masonic classic from Manly P. Hall. This is an insightful study of the deeper and esoteric aspects of Freemasonry. Wonderful work for Mason or non-Mason. Cornerstone Reprint Series ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

What Freemasonry means to the Masons

This is an excellent book celebrating the 275 years of the Craft of Freemasonry and what it is all about ,seen through the eyes of the Masons themselves.
The Craft of Freemasonry,as it is known today ,began in England when four London Lodges organized into Freemasonry.In time, independent Grand Lodges grew up in many parts of the world.Each developed in its own way its its own traditions and differences,but all subscribe to the same basic principles of Brotherly Love,Relief and Truth.One basic requirement for any person to be accepted as a member is that they believe in God.
There is a long history of organizations stretching all the way back to antiquity where stonemasons and builders joined together ,formed organizations,had tenents and rules,symbols,traditions,rituals and such. One of the better known ,were the Knights Templars,who ,among other things,protected pilgrimages to the Holy Lands in the Middle Ages.Like many organizations throughout history,there was great persecution of members and hence needs to become secret,to survive. The history is very complicated,many books have been written,much is based on historical facts ,but much is written from pure fantasy and even biased agendae.
This book leaves most of the ancient historical roots behind and mainly deals with Freemasonry from 1717 to the present day.
Freemasonry has counted many of the great movers and shakers in the western world among its members during the past 275 years.
This book covers some of these people such as Presidents,Royalty,Scientists,Musicians,Wrirers,Sportsmen,Military Leaders.Entertainers and such.You may already know that some of them wre Freemasons,but others will surprise you.
It is interesting that of the 55 who signed The Declaration Of Independence,9 were Masons ,and 13 Masons signed the Constitution. Although good numbers,in no way can it be construed that they "ran the show"
There are prominent Masons in every area of endeavor, but many and probably the greatest masjority ,were ordinary people and businessmen and leaders.
In the book you will find many interesting things such as the Mason's involvment in the Statute of Liberty,the Capital,The Washingtion Monument and The White House.
On pages 48 and 49you will find a very interesting and detailed illustration showing the structure of Freemasony and all the various groups and rites involved and how they are connected and relate to one another.
There are a lot of different books available about the Freemasons,but you can't go wrong if you get this book to find out what Freemasonry and what it is all about and who some of the great people in history were among its members.

A wonderful book!
This hard cover book was a joy to read.It explains most of the history of Masonry, as well as documenting the more famous Masons throughout time, although a little of the history is a bit dry.It explains many interesting facts about how Masons affected the United States, as well as Europe, from the 1800s until today.It has an easy-to-read, good looking typeface with beautiful illustrations, and would be a welcome addition to any Mason's library.

A great starter book for a new Mason
Newer bretheren to the Craft will find this book to be easily digestible as well as illuminating. Established Bretheren will no doubt find a few pleasant surprises. Starting with an interesting forward by HRH The Duke of Kent, current Grand Master of the United Grand Lodge of England, the book takes the reader through the history of the Craft (and the versions thereof), dispelling certain myths as it does; then goes on to describe the significance of Freemasonry in British but more so in American society (being an American publication). Who would have known, for instance, that the Statue of Liberty was designed by a Mason, paid for by Masons, and that even the cornerstone was laid by a Mason (the Grand Master of New York) in a public Masoic ceremony? The book finnishes with a descriptive list of 250 of the more famous Masons from around the world. A fine addition to the bookshelf of any Brother! ... Read more

Product Description
This volume is produced from digital images created through the University of Michigan University Library's preservation reformatting program. The Library seeks to preserve the intellectual content of items in a manner that facilitates and promotes a variety of uses. The digital reformatting process results in an electronic version of the text that can both be accessed online and used to create new print copies. This book and thousands of others can be found in the digital collections of the University of Michigan Library. The University Library also understands and values the utility of print, and makes reprints available through its Scholarly Publishing Office. ... Read more

Product Description
Are Freemasons a secret society, with a dangerous agenda, as their enemies would like to present or a philanthropic association of good men (and women) trying to become better and improve the society they live in? Can we subscribe to the controversial idea that the phenomenon of Freemasonry has a life of its own within our collective unconscious that sustains itself regardless of human destiny?Enter into this mysterious world of symbols, bizarre rituals, secret words, signs and handshakes and learn first hand what it is all about, where it is coming from and where it is going. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Good info
Though you can tell that English is not a first language, what he has to say is credible.I enjoyed it. ... Read more

Product Description
This scarce antiquarian book is included in our special Legacy Reprint Series. In the interest of creating a more extensive selection of rare historical book reprints, we have chosen to reproduce this title even though it may possibly have occasional imperfections such as missing and blurred pages, missing text, poor pictures, markings, dark backgrounds and other reproduction issues beyond our control. Because this work is culturally important, we have made it available as a part of our commitment to protecting, preserving and promoting the world's literature. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

From the point of view of a Wise Master...
I was expecting another Masonic philosophical treatise as it applied to the tools, rituals and staging of the degrees and plays of the Scottish Rite of North America.Instead I found a beautifully written, researched and organized collection of essays about the social, political, and cultural landscape of a nation that fell in love with the stage, fraternalism and the resulting affect on how Masonic philosophy came to evolve to its' present condition.
The pedigree of the authors and contributors is second to none.The production quality is outstanding, and the price of the work is perfect for the value received.
I highly recommend this work to all Americans, more especially - to Hiram. ... Read more

Product Description
Long recognized as more than the writings of a dozen or so philosophes, the Enlightenment created a new secular culture populated by the literate and the affluent.Enamoured of British institutions, Continental Europeans turned to the imported masonic lodges and found in them a new forum that was constitutionally constructed and logically egalitarian. Originating in the Middle Ages, when stone-masons joined together to preserve their professional secrets and to protect their wages, the English and Scottish lodges had by the eighteenth century discarded their guild origins and become an international phenomenon that gave men and eventually some women a place to vote, speak, discuss and debate.Margaret Jacob argues that the hundreds of masonic lodges founded in eighteenth-century Europe were among the most important enclaves in which modern civil society was formed.In France, the Netherlands, Belgium, and Britain men and women freemasons sought to create a moral and social order based upon reason and virtue, and dedicated to the principles of liberty and equality.A forum where philosophers met with men of commerce, government, and the professions, the masonic lodge created new forms of self-government in microcosm, complete with constitutions and laws, elections, and representatives. This is the first comprehensive history of Enlightenment freemasonry, from the roots of the society's political philosophy and evolution in seventeenth-century England and Scotland to the French Revolution. Based on never-before-used archival sources, it will appeal to anyone interested in the birth of modernity in Europe or in the cultural milieu of the European Enlightenment. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

An Important Scholarly Contribution to Freemasonry
This work is intellectually accessible to the educated, general reader who is willing to spend the time to read her notes and follow her arguments. She directs her scholarly attention to the charges against, or boasts of, some Freemasons, that the Craft was responsible for the French and American Revolutions. She answers both sides of the controversy with a qualified "yes", hastening to show that it was the already long-standing practice (in every sense) of self-government in masonic lodges that provided a blueprint for the rise of our respective constitutional governments, based on utopian ideas about the perfectability of man and society (at least as goals to strive toward). Any educated Freemason could have told Prof. Jacob that, but it is wonderful to have such distinguished academic testimony of this fact. On the other hand, a careful scrutiny of Benjamin Franklin's travels and contacts (even in Catholic Spain!) that led to foreign support of the Revolution might push her argument more in support of the commonly held belief.

I Disagree with the Prior Review
Ms. Jacob has done a wonderful job showing how the essentially non-mystic, scientific and artistic Enlightenment was "translated" into a political movement by the 18th century Masons. It is extremely well done.

The Mason's historic opposition to the Catholic Church - and to other authoritarian and non-democratic institutions of all kinds (including "Holy" Russia, as the prior reviewer chooses to call it) - political as well as religious, is well established historic fact and, as such, was critical to the development of modern western governments' tenants of religious toleration. THAT is history and THAT is Ms. Jacob's theme. Whether you approve of the Mason's or not, she clearly presents their critical role in history.

After reading and completely enjoying the book's scholarship and perspective, I wanted to let other readers know that, in my opinion, the prior review is simply a strong pro-Catholic and anti-Masonic view of history, and is not a review of the book, which is excellent.

Exalting the Evil
"Living The Enlightenment" is not an appropriate title for this absurd manuscript.Certainly, we cannot experience this period of European history by perusing this horribly written book.A better title would be, "Exalting the Evil".For that is, indeed, what Margaret C. Jacob does between the covers of this work.

The book stands as, more than anything else, a panegyric to the hideous legacy of freemasonic "Enlightenment" thought and political action that led to the bloody French Revolution, was ostensibly founded on the philosophy of the regicidal 17th Century English Revolution, and carried through to the even more horrible 20th Century Bolshevik Revolution.In the Bolshevik Revolution, its leaders, Trotsky and Lenin, both harkened back to their intellectual predecessors, the Jacobins who, were, of course, children of this "Enlightenment".

What did this movement, upon which Ms. Jacob casts such lavish encomiums in this ridiculous book, represent?The Masonic lodges of 18th century Europe, as recorded by Jacob and others were places of radical politics, anti-clericalism, elitism, and unspeakable sexual perversion.This is the essence of the evil that Ms. Jacob seeks to exalt.

As to style, the writing is terrible.We are reminded in suffering through Ms. Jacob's poor excuse for prose of Denis Fahey's description of another author curiously also surnamed Jacob, whom Fahey characterized, quite accurately, as employing a "studied vagueness of expression".For illustrative purposes, we will cite a couple of examples:

On page 113 of her text, occurs the following memorable sentence,

"The message in the preface is clear enough, if somewhat disguised."

In a similar vein, on page 198, Ms. Jacob regales us with the following:

"However much the Enlightenment's endorsement of human equality was tied inexorably to literate and polite culture and deeply distrustful of "the people", it was palpably different from the rationale that justified separate and privileged estates."

Perhaps there is an esoteric meaning to such gibberish.But on the face of it, it is, like the bulk of the corpus of this text, complete and utter nonsense.

Finishing this book was a release from darkness.We have read this book, so that others will not be so encumbered.To any university professors who may be considering using this book as an adjunct to their coursework, we would urge them to consider other alternatives.This is the type of writing that drives many sincere and motivated history undergraduates into other disciplines.
... Read more

Product Description
For the first time ever, a source from within reveals the shocking truth that the roots of the Knights Templar, and thus those of Freemasonry, were actually more deeply linked to Islam than to Christianity. The Knights Templar of the Middle East breaks new ground in this well-tilled sphere and is guaranteed to stir more fires of controversy than any other book to date on Freemasonry and Templars.

Prince Michael writes with sterling scholarship, making full use of his access to libraries of the secret orders of which he is a member. The book delves deep to examine the true roots of this worldwide society, revealing both historical events from Europe to the Middle East and the author’s own deeply personal, perilous journey to research and expose this hidden history.

Going against the accepted history of the Freemason society as evolved from a remnant of Knights Templar who settled in Scotland, The Knights Templar of the Middle East takes readers much farther back to the true historical biblical land, based in Western Arabia rather than Palestine. The true secret of the Inner Circle of the Order of the Templars was such that, had they revealed it, the knowledge would have rocked the cradle of Christian and Judaic beliefs. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Not worth the time or money!
I have to agree with most of what is written in the other reviews. This book is disappointing, and the title is misleading.
the facts are not well researched (and some times i felt they were adapted to serve the purpose of the author).

The part other reviewers did no comment on was the relationship between Templars and Arabs / Muslims: the arguments regarding the "Peaceful" or "Positive interaction" with the EAST is presented in a manner intended to polish the the Templar ruthless history in both the ME and Europe. Yes there was an ongoing relationship between the ME / Andalusia and Europe (Templars representing the dark side of it!), but secret relationships and blood lines are good basis for a movie! perhaps another Davenci Code (which is a much better book and excellently researched).

To make it short: The author is very selective in presenting the facts. The Islamic Origins in the title is just to make the book attractive. The bloodlines and relationships between individuals and families are hardly convincing or of any real value. The whole story is very weak.

This is not even a fun reading book, not even as a fiction story.

The two stars: the book acknowledges the forgotten fact of the positive influence of the Arab civilization on modern Europe, and presents interesting facts on the topic.

The Knights Templar of the Middle East. The Hidden History of the Islamic Origins of Freemasonry
Your time would be better spent giving oneself an enema than wasting brain cells on this book.After suffering through the author's endless attack on Christrianity, the reader finally gets to the subject of interest, the Templars.The limited discussion within the book on the sacred geometry, the working relationship between the Templars, Cisterian church and the stone masons building gothic churches would be good if any form of documentation or reference were included. But a Templar heavy cavalry charge at Bannockburn was to much.Any historian worth his oats knows the Scots launched a predawn surprise attack using infantry to win this victory.If a Knight Templar one had been present, English annalists would have recorded the fact.I ended up cataloging my copy of the book at the local landfill, no insult meant to the landfill.

Far under current standards
This review is well intentioned to HRH and the co-author.However, the book simply does not meet minimal quality criteria for such a work and casts a thick shadow on Samuel Weiser publishers, otherwise known for high quality in the esoteric field.Perhaps authors and publisher were in a great commercial hurry to jump onto the Da Vinci Code bandwagon.

The subtitle is presumptuous.Its last part should have read "the Islamic transmission of Freemasonry" instead of "origins".As HRH should know, the origins of masonic craft symbolics and initiation are "from time immemorial".

The text to be printed was, if at all, very poorly proofread and abounds in errors of spelling, grammar and syntax.If proofreading quality is an indication of what HRH's rule might be like, God save Scotland!

Although it contains a list of reference texts, the book is not footnoted and thus places much if not most of its content, alas, into the realm of conjecture.

One of the central recurrent themes of HRH is continual severe bashing of the Christian Roman Catholic Church, an institution to which, mind you, this reviewer does not belong. This concurs with HRH's decidedly "kshatriya" (warrior caste) point of view.Not unlike the 19th century abuse and capture of French freemasonry by egalitarian politics, HRM purports that 18th century French FM served above all as a cover and camouflage to place the Stuart dynasty back on the throne of the United Kingdom.If this were so, so much the worser for the initiatic Order of FM!

As is frequent among authors, HRM reveals his ideological leanings in the Preface by referring to the 19th century notion of reincarnation, if taken literally an absurd amalgamation of the two traditional doctrines of transmigration (not restricted to one world among an indefinity thereof)and metemphychosis.Apparently many if not most "modern occultists" including HRH have great difficulty understanding that the known universe with all of its mega- and micro-galaxies, black holes, quanta, waves, and beings, is only one of an indefinity of worlds, and definitely not a closed circuit.

So YRH and Mr Salhab, if you decide to publish a 2nd edition, at the very least please be so kind as to:

1. proofread it or have it professionally proofread,

2. meticulously footnote it,

and

3. refrain from assertions that only detract from your historic position.

History and Pseudo-history
This book is fairly well written and fairly well researched, with a good bibliography, except for the inclusion of some books of pseudo-history, but sadly lacking any footnotes or endnotes to indicate the sources of his claims, except for a few sources mentioned within the text, which in the end is a combination of history and pseudo-history, with little evidence of his title thesis about Islam, mostly just uncertain and vague connections between Templars and Islam in the middle east or Islamic Spain. The author briefly compares Islamic belief about Jesus against Church belief, but it seems unlikely that Islam is the source of heretical Templar beliefs, and continues a bit with speculations about Templar archaeological diggings and possible Essene manuscripts. The author spends some paragraphs comparing Islamic architecture and Church architecture, but unfortunately without any drawings or photographs, which would have been useful and helpful. The book is actually more concerned with the pseudo-historical idea that Jesus and Mary Magdalene were the founders of the royal families of Europe, including his own Scottish Stewart ancestry, and its links with the founding of freemasonry, and as usual with this sort of speculative alternative history, completely lacking any credible historical evidence of the most basic claim regarding their ancient reputed genealogy, but just continuing the usual unproven claims and speculations, as if merely repeating pseudo-historical assertions is sufficient proof. However, there was an assertion regarding the Merovingians and Carolingians and Capetians, as being all of the same family and same male lineage descent, that I have not seen in other similar pseudo-historical books, although I have not seen all the other similar books. Of course, the inclusion of female lineage descent from the Merovingians, thru daughters of these families, would include almost all the families of nobility in Europe. There is a small amount of genealogy in this book, but not sufficiently documented, and there may be a few errors or statements contrary to the usual scholarly consensus about historical genealogies, although documentary proof of early middle ages genealogy is a difficult subject even for genealogical experts and historians.

Serious Historical Inquiry
This book provides one of the first serious historical inquiries about the Knights Templar, Freemasonry and its Islamic historical roots. There are many common threads that carry themself even until contemporary time. Great read, well written. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Extremely useful to all masons
This book is flat out the best book for any mason to have. Even if your not interested in becoming an officer it is still very handy for understanding why we do the things that we do, and more importantly HOW we do them. Naturally every jurisdiction has their own versions, so this should be considered a guide to the concepts NOT the transcript of the right way; "Right" is what ever your grand lodge says is right.

Excellent Reference
This, the second of two books which revise the original Duncan's, is a wonderful reference for those seeking to understand the overall flow of things in the ceremonies of the Blue Lodge.

A Must For All Freemasons
This book is a must read for all Freemasons.It allows you to further you Masonic education at your own pace while providing further enlightenment. I heartily recommend this book. ... Read more

Product Description
This essay appeared in New York, 1818, with an anonymous preface of which I quote the opening paragraph: "This tract is a chapter belonging to the Third Part of the "Age of Reason," as will be seen by the references made in it to preceding articles, as forming part of the same work. It was culled from the writings of Mr. Paine after his death, and published in a mutilated state by Mrs. Bonneville, his executrix. Passages having a reference to the Christian religion she erased, with a view no doubt ofaccommodating the work to the prejudices of bigotry. These, however, have been restored from the original manuscript, except a few lines which were rendered illegible." Madame Bonneville published this fragment in New York, 1810 (with the omissions I point out) as a pamphlet. -- Dr. Robinet (Danton- Emigre, p. 7) says erroneously that Paine was a Freemason; but an eminent member of that Fraternity in London, Mr. George Briggs, after reading this essay, which I submitted to him, tells me that "his generaloutline, remarks, and comments, are fairly true." Paine's intimacy in Paris with Nicolas de Bonneville and Charles Frangois Dupuis, whose writings are replete with masonic speculations, sufficiently explain his interest in the subject. -- Moncure Daniel Conway The Writings of Thomas Paine 1896 G.P.Putnam's Sons, New York ... Read more

Product Description
"Secret societies have fascinated those on the outside since the beginning of time, and here, in this extraordinary 1921 work, the mysteries and riddles of one of the most famous¿the Freemasons¿are exhaustively detailed by a preeminent 19th-century expert in esoterica. Complete with all the original illustrations, this two-volume work is an essential reference for anyone enthralled by the secret and the arcane, and will particularly captivate students of our modern conspiracy-theory culture.Volume II covers everything Masonic from L¿¿Lamartine¿: a French Mason of the revolutionary era¿to Z¿¿Zohar¿: a legendary text containing the secret tradition in Israel¿and includes intriguing entries on:¿ Masonic symbols¿ political aspects of Freemasonry¿ psychical research¿ quests in Masonry¿ the rose in Masonic symbolism¿ Scottish Rites¿ Sublime Masters of the Luminous Ring¿ Templar priests¿ and much moreAmerican-born British author ARTHUR EDWARD WAITE (1857¿1942) was cocreator of the famous 1910 Rider-Waite Tarot deck. Among his numerous books are Devil Worship in France, The Holy Kabbalah, and The Book of Ceremonial Magic." ... Read more

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Product Description
Alongside the Esoteric Section, Rudolf Steiner created the "Cognitive Cultic Section," a ritual order connected to Masonic tradition, but independent and anthroposophical in inspiration. This astonishing volume contains the rituals, lectures, meditations, and other instructions Steiner gave.

As he began to establish his esoteric mission, Rudolf Steiner chose to connect his spiritual goals and efforts with the wisdom streams that had prepared the ground for his task. For the sake of conscience, gratitude, and continuity, he determined to acknowledge those who preceded him and to relate himself to them in his characteristically free, creative, conscious, and independent way.

Steiner also understood that ritual was central, even necessary, as the essence of embodied spiritual work. For this reason, he saw Freemasonry as the preeminent spiritual, non-sectarian, communitarian paradigm. He knew, too, that Freemasonry, though it appeared hollow, was perhaps the main repository of esoteric, ritual tradition and initiation remaining in the West. Most of the guiding spirits in the recent Western development had been Masons, including Goethe, Herder, Lessing, the founders of the United States, as well as Madame Blavatsky and the other great esotericists of the nineteenth century.

Although he never "became" a Mason, in 1905 the "Great Orient of the Scottish A & A Thirty-Three Degree Rite of the Order of the Ancient Freemasons of the Memphis-Misraim Rite" granted Rudolf Steiner—based on his self-evident, extraordinary initiatory status—a patent to direct his own "order" under the name "Mystica Aeterna." He received his charter from Theodore Reuss of the Ordo Templum Orientalis or O.T.O. Nevertheless, Steiner was never a member of, nor did he have any involvement with, the O.T.O. Reuss had received permission to operate the Memphis-Misraim rite from John Yarker, who, some twenty years previously, had initiated Madame Blavatsky into the same Order.

In time, Mystica Aeterna became the "Cognitive Cultic Section" (also called the "Misraim Service") of the Esoteric School of the German Section of the Theosophical Society; this is the subject of this book. The "Masonic" phase in Rudolf Steiner’s life and work passed, but it remains transformed and alive in many ways in Anthroposophy as he handed it down to us today. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Interesting about Misraim Freemasonry
This is a real interesting Book about what might be called esoteric Freemasonry. Steiner gives many interesting perspectives on Freemasonry that you simply don't find anywhere alse. Steiner's logdes of Freemasonry followed the so called Misraim-rite, a rite of Freemasonry dating from 1788. The Misraim-rite has certain egyptian elements in it. There have been many Misraim-lodges in Europe and America (and Egypt), but none that has gone so deep into the esoteric meaning of masonry as Steiner's groups did. And in fact Steiner's Misraim Groups are still in existence, in several European countries and in New Zealand. "The Misraim Service - Freemasonry and Ritual Work" is a highly recommended Book.
Mikael W Gejel

meals and menues
This is an amazing piece of documentation. And it has an enormously well-researched, conscientious, five star introduction by Christopher Bamford, which alone is worth the book.

Still, my feelings towards this publication are mixed. Having had the fortunate destiny to be initiated into this tradition a decade ago - yes, it is alive and well, albeit small - I know from first hand experience what a blessing it can be to undergo the process described in the book.

Thus I must propose: If you are seriously interested in the subject matter, consider NOT reading this book! If you are truly serious your steps might just take you to the unexpected doors of a living lodge working this rite, and what a pity, then, if it will not work for you because you have read the spoiler! Beware, in other words, of confusing the menue with the meal!

And if you are NOT seriously interested in the process described in this book, I suggest you go do something you ARE seriously interested in and leave this strange passion to the strangely passionate.

Having said that, there is a third possibility: Read the book BUT SKIP the actual ritual texts (pp 159 - 246)! This takes some discipline and some respect for the Tradition. But it just might be something you will be thankful for should destiny provide you with the option to actually walk this walk. All I can say is: I am SO GLAD I did not read this book before I had undergone the amazing processes described therein! It would have irrevocably dulled the edge of the effects it has had on my inner life, my ability to do original research as well as my understanding of Steiner's amazing cognitive capacities.

I'll give it a single star. But a good one!

A major contribution to esoteric studies
Rudolf Steiner is. widely regarded as the most important esoteric thinker of the 20th century, yet his polymath influence remains largely unrecognized. Recent research in neuroscience has been confirming important features of his map of the mind and human being, while he also forecast problems with mad cow disease, the Baltic states and children's development, to name but three, pretty much as they have turned out. His advanced organic farming method, Biodynamics, has become the hot new development in wine making, his art and architecture is attracting significant new interest while his influence on organic architecture and major 20th-century artists, such as Joseph Beuys, Kandinsky and Drtikol, is reasonably well known. The 600 plus Steiner schools around the world have exerted a disproportionate effect on educational thinking and continue to do so. However, all of these and more practical outcomes are shaded by the depths of his most profound insights into spiritual development. This book is an interesting partner to his work with the Christian Community, where he also worked with a group of individuals to develop a new and insightful take on their spiritual interests. Here, we have a major work of Arkana which provides a fascinating perspective on his prime work in Anthrosophical development. Steinerbooks are to be congratulated on bringing out this edition. The masons have obviously been one of the most important subcultures in Western history over the last few centuries, not least as the pragmatic leadership of the American Revolution and the structure and concepts of the new American republic. Alongside the Rosicrucian movement, they were also highly influential in science (think of the Royal Society), the arts (think of the Magic Flute and Mozart) and social science (as in the American example given above or Goethe's role as the chief minister of the state of Weimar). The tremendous success of the pseudo-occult novel The Da Vinci Code shows the pent-up interest in the deeper secrets of human history and development. For anyone who read that novel, or have an interest in the esoteric or indeed in Steiner, this has to be a fascinating and important opportunity to explore significant mysteries and an important contribution. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (12)

One of the Worst Books on Freemasonry EVER
Ole' Manly Hall must've mixed his medications the day he cranked this baby out.You just know he was one of those guys who sat around during the 60's trying to figure out how to play Beatles albums backwards. Incredibly disappointing, particularly when compared to his Secret Teachings of All Ages. These Keys should've stayed lost.Avoid at all cost.

Great Manly Hall Work
This is an inspired work by Manly Hall. It should be read more than once to truly absorb all of the symbolism and meaning. Another great book by this author is: 'Freemasons and Rosicrucians - the Enlightened' which actually includes 'The Lost Keys of Freemasonry' in the book. Great collection!

An Interesting Read, To Say The Least
To put it bluntly, I'm one of those Christians some might consider "fundamentalist". I willingly admit I'm no fan of Freemasonry. That being said, I still give this book 4 stars for the valuable information I was able to glean from this book while doing research into the Freemasonry-Mysticism/Occult connection.

It is striking to me that the author, a longtime ocultist,(who was only 21 when he wrote the book!),was not yet a Mason when he wrote this book. He became a Mason later on, but didnt see a need to change anything in the book after becoming a Freemason. The book is considered today to be accurate, factual, and authoritative by many Masons to this day, even though a non-Mason (at the time) wrote it! The fact that his previous occult knowledge plus reading a few books on Masonry was enough background for him to write knowledgeably on the connection between Freemasonry and the occult mysteries should tell you something: Freemasonry and the occult originate from the same source/the same spirit, a very dark spirit, for sure.

One interpretation of Masonry that leaves a huge question!
Manly Hall is likely well known to readers of esoterica and other philosophical works. It has been mentioned here as well that he wrote this, what many Masons believe to be a definitive esoteric take on the fundamental import of the Fraternity, decades before he experienced the Masonic degrees himself.Does this disqualify? I lean in that direction, as a Freemason myself, who has always thought you must experience such things to begin to understand such things.But, I'll give him the benefit of the doubt, because, Mr. Hall's explanation of the meaning of the degrees, and previous mystic experiences, is one that seems quite valid as an interpretation and really more than valid, even highly inspiring and noble.Which begs the question:If the reader accepts the book's posited premise that Freemasonry is so fundamentally important to the spiritual regeneration of mankind, why on earth then, pray tell, would we purposely exclude one-half of the world's population (i.e., women) from experiencing it firsthand?Aha. Well, then, perhaps we are 'just' a men's social organization with the noble aim of advancing the cause of virtue by the study and practice of moral philosophy, ecumenical harmony, fellowship and civic charity, after all.And that's just fine for millions of Masons, as it should be.Read this book however, as well as W. L. Wilmshursts "The Meaning of Masonry" for interesting, one person's philosophical views on the meaning behing the most misunderstood, yet storied and admirable Fraternity in history.

Interesting but not definitive, reckless with evidence
An attempt to expound upon the deeper meanings of the three blue lodge degrees, this little volume has been a longtime favorite of esoteric Masons. Unfortunately this book is marred by a heavy-handed "I know all the inner work" approach, all the more troubling when we consider that it was written decades before Hall became a Mason. Hall asserts facts about ancient Egypt that cannot be verified by evidence. However, this book represents a distinct philosophy of Masonry that has been very influential in the United States and should not be overlooked by completists or those particularly attracted to trascendentalist / magical interpretations of the Craft. Please bear in mind, though, that esoteric Masons are the first to tell you how important real initiation into the tradition is. That being the case, it would have to be the most supreme coincidence if Hall as someone who had never experienced the degrees other than by reading copies of them, had come to grasp their absolute essence (as suggested by other reviewers here). Also, I would like to think the the finest interpretations of Freemasonry would not rely on fabribated historical information, such as many of the "Egyptian" practices mentioned throughout the text and depicted in the illustrations, for example, in the frontispiece. ... Read more

Product Description
Through the study of Charles Testut's Le Vieux Salomon, a nineteenth-century southern Francophone antislavery novel, this book encourages a reassessment of the southern experience and of the canon of southern literature. Arguing for a southern literary identity strongly influenced by French socialist thought and colonial culture, Abel's book is an invaluable resource for Francophone scholars interested in race and colonial literature. ... Read more